Got PTSD? Cannabis Finally Gets the FDA OK for Healing!

Ayo, what’s good fam? We been waitin’ for this moment for a hot minute, and it’s finally here! You heard about that FDA giving the thumbs up for a big study on how smokin’ that green can help our veterans deal with PTSD, right? Yeah, finally! After years of jumpin’ through hoops and dodgin’ obstacles, the crew over at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, or MAPS for short, is ready to roll with a dope clinical trial.

This whole operation gon’ be funded by that sweet tax money comin’ from legal weed sales in Michigan. You know it’s about time we start using that cash for somethin’ good! The FDA just gave the go-ahead for Phase 2 of the research, which MAPS described as “a randomized, placebo-controlled study of 320 Veterans suffering from moderate to severe PTSD who have previously used cannabis.” That’s right, they gon’ check if smokin’ that high THC flower is the real deal for our heroes.

MAPS is all about keepin’ it real, and this study is designed to see how the vets react to smokin’ that fire compared to some placebo stuff. Participants gonna be able to control their own dose, which is basically just a fancy way of sayin’ they can puff it how they want. This study gon’ reflect how people really be usin’ cannabis out in the streets, and it’s all about understandin’ the benefits and risks of treatin’ PTSD with the green.

Now, don’t get it twisted, this ain’t just some hasty decision. MAPS been workin’ hard on this for years, tryin’ to get past all them regulatory roadblocks that slowed ‘em down. After fightin’ with the FDA for three whole years, they finally got the green light, and it’s about time! MAPS said, “This decision opens the door to future research into cannabis as a medical treatment, offering hope to millions.” That’s what we like to hear!

The study is super important for patients, doctors, and anyone lookin’ to use cannabis for serious health issues like PTSD and pain management. Historically, gettin’ solid data on cannabis been tough ‘cause of all them regulations, but they pushin’ through that struggle. They faced five hold letters from the FDA that put the brakes on this study, but MAPS never backed down.

Let’s hear it from Dr. Sue Sisley, the main brain behind this study. She said this trial gonna show how smokin’ that weed can really help with PTSD. Even with all the buzz about cannabis bein’ used by folks with PTSD, there just ain’t enough hard data out there to back it up. “Millions of Americans are smokin’ or vaporizing cannabis to manage or treat their symptoms,” she said. “But much of the available info comes from a place of prohibition and focuses only on the risks, not the benefits.” Preach!

She’s also pointed out that a lot of her veteran patients said that smokin’ cannabis worked better for ‘em than them traditional meds. With suicide rates among veterans at an all-time high, Sisley’s callin’ for more research to find solutions for these urgent issues. “We gotta invest in researchin’ new treatments for life-threatening health conditions like PTSD,” she said.

Now, this Phase 2 study gon’ gather crucial data that docs can use to create treatment plans to help folks manage their PTSD symptoms. Allison Coker, the cannabis research head at MAPS, said the FDA finally came to the table and agreed to let them proceed with smoked cannabis. But hold up, they still ain’t cool with the idea of vaporization just yet; that’s still on pause while they check the safety of the delivery devices.

And in response to some FDA concerns about including newbies to cannabis in the study, MAPS switched it up. Now, only participants with prior experience smokin’ or vaporizing cannabis can join in. They keepin’ it real, but also safe, ya feel me?

The FDA might not be givin’ all the tea on how they came to this decision, but they did say they know there’s a big need for more options for mental health treatments like PTSD. This study is gettin’ funded by Michigan’s Veteran Marijuana Research Grant Program, which is doin’ its part to support the health of our armed forces. They dropped a cool $13 million in funding back in 2021, and that’s just one part of a larger effort to research how cannabis can help veterans.

Rick Doblin, the big boss over at MAPS, said veterans seriously need better treatments for their PTSD symptoms. “We’re here to challenge the FDA to think differently,” he said. “We ain’t compromising our study design to fit some standard box.” That’s the kind of fight we need to see!

MAPS has been trailblazin’ in the research game, not just with cannabis but also with psychedelics. They even started a side hustle, Lykos Therapeutics, to get MDMA approved for PTSD treatment, but that didn’t go through back in August. However, folks in the health sector still see progress in the feds’ mindset toward these treatments.

As this study kicks off, it’s clear that our veterans, who fought hard for our freedom, deserve every opportunity to heal and live their best lives. So let’s keep our eyes peeled for more updates on this project, and let’s hope it opens doors for more research and better treatment options for those who served!